Who Will Win the Quarterback Competition?

The Raiders’ quarterback competition will be the prime focus of their training camp, and for good reason.

The early favorite is Matt Flynn, and it is likely his job to lose. At the same time, we can’t rule out Terrelle Pryor or Tyler Wilson.

Pryor’s athletic ability piques the interest of many, and while he may have some work to do as a passer, his ability to escape pressure and make plays with his legs can be extremely valuable to an offense.

Wilson may be a rookie, but his experience, toughness and leadership really stand out from his impressive career at Arkansas.

While this position battle does have a clear-cut leader in Flynn, the lack of long-term financial commitment to him makes the competition relatively wide open.

Can the Running Game Bounce Back?

It is no secret that the running game was a huge disappointment in 2012, much of which can be attributed to the zone-blocking scheme that Greg Knapp brought with him as offensive coordinator.

The system has been successful around the league, but if it wasn’t already clear before, there is now little doubt as to how poor of a fit it is for the Raiders’ offensive personnel.

With Greg Olson now hired as offensive coordinator and Tony Sparano as the assistant head coach/offensive line coach, the Raiders will go back to a man/gap-blocking scheme similar to the one run under Hue Jackson in 2010 and 2011.

Not only does this system provide a better fit for Darren McFadden, it also suits the offensive line and fullback Marcel Reece as lead blockers.

If the system change allows for the running game to get close to where it was under Hue Jackson, and Darren McFadden can stay healthy, there is no reason the run cannot carry this offense to success in 2013.

Which Young Tight End Will Emerge?

When the Raiders lost Brandon Myers to free agency this offseason, they lost one of their most productive pass-catchers from the 2012 season.

Of course, the popular argument is that his statistics were inflated in “garbage time” of losing efforts, but it is a notable loss nonetheless.

Now the Raiders’ tight end group is extremely unproven; they need someone to step up and take hold of the starting job in a big way.

The athletic David Ausberry will be the early favorite to take over for the departed Myers, but he will be challenged throughout camp by rookie draft selections Nick Kasa and Mychal Rivera.

Each player has significant upside as a pass-catcher, and the argument could be made for each as the Raiders’ tight end of the future. This will be one of the most interesting position battles to watch in training camp.

How Will the Raiders Generate a Pass Rush?

Heading into this offseason, many expected that the Raiders’ prime focus would be to upgrade their pass rush through the draft, free agency, or even both.

While they may not have done so with any big names, their pass rush should be improved for a variety of reasons.

First and foremost, that improvement should come as a result of some significant upgrades in the secondary. The extra time provided in coverage, if even just one second, is crucial in allowing the pass-rushers to get to the quarterback.

Up front, there are a number of players capable of taking advantage of that pass-rush opportunity.

Heading into this season healthy should put Andre Carter in a much better spot than last year, and Lamarr Houston continues to develop his game as a pass-rusher as well.

Third-round draft pick Sio Moore will see the majority of his snaps at linebacker, but he also has the ability to put his hand in the ground as a nickel defensive end and get after the quarterback.

Another name to keep an eye on is seventh-round draft pick David Bass. Bass was an extremely productive pass-rusher at Missouri Western, with the speed and quickness to achieve edge-rush success in the NFL quite quickly.

How Multiple Will the Defense Be?

Dennis Allen has long talked about the need to be multiple in the looks his defense gives an offense.

Now, with several additions in the front seven, the Raiders have the capability to employ significantly more formations and sub-packages in hopes of doing just that.

In training camp and throughout the preseason, we should get a good idea of just how much the Raiders plan on varying up their defensive formations, possibly even moving toward a 3-4 base front in future years.

These multiple looks will allow the Raiders to send blitzers from a number of different areas on the field, thus helping the pass rush improve in the process.

Can Bobby April Fix the Special Teams?

The Raiders’ special teams struggled in both the return and coverage units throughout the 2012 season.

Getting back a healthy Jacoby Ford as well as signing veteran kick-returner Josh Cribbs should help the return teams, but it is about much more than just one player here and there.

Bobby April has long been one of the most respected special teams coaches in the NFL, and it will be his job to get the most out of this unit.

Many overlook the fact that special teams is one third of the game. If April can have some success with what should be an improved group talent-wise, special teams will do more than most think in improving this Raiders team.

Can the Raiders Sign Key Players Long-Term?

Due to the roster overhaul that has taken place since Reggie McKenzie’s hiring, the Raiders will have a significant amount of salary cap space at their disposal for the 2014 season and beyond.

While much of that will be used to bring in some outside free agents, it should first and foremost be directed towards working out extensions for some key players who will see their contracts expire after this season.

This list includes Darren McFadden, Jared Veldheer, Lamarr Houston, Marcel Reece, Jacoby Ford and Sebastian Janikowski to name a few.

While the Raiders may wait until this season is over before starting contract negotiations with these players, working out extensions now, well before they hit the free agent market, would be a good idea.